Building Health Skills How do you do it?

Learning Goal: Demonstrate communication and refusal skills in building and maintaining healthy relationships

Health Skills Health Skills, or Life skills, are specific tools and strategies that help you maintain, protect and improve all aspects of your life. Activity: In your groups, create a list of all the health skills you can think of. Brainstorm with your group and think about what skills are necessary to maintain, protect and improve ALL aspects of your life…

Interpersonal Skills Interpersonal Communication, or the exchange of thoughts, feelings, and beliefs between two or more people, is a vital health skill.

Effective Communication Was that an example of effective communication? What did you observe that was ineffective? How could that conversation been classified as effective communication? What skills do you think are necessary to achieve effective communication?

Effective Communication Use “I” messages to state your position. This helps to avoid placing blame. Use a respectful tone. Be mindful of facial expressions and gestures. Avoid interrupting the speaker. Show that you are listening by asking questions and nodding. Do you do this with your friends? Teachers? Parents? And most importantly, be honest!

Decision Making Decision Making – an instructional strategy in which students are given a situation for which a choice must be made and asked to apply a series of steps to determine which choice leads to responsible actions. Decision making is not problem solving, if you make a decision that results in a responsible action you will avoid problems. Decision Making Steps Promote Health Protect Safety Obey Laws Show respect for self and others Follow guidelines set by responsible adults Demonstrate Character

Refusal skills Refusal Skills are communication strategies that can help you say no when you are urged to take part in behaviors that are unsafe or unhealthful, or that go against your values. Can I have a volunteer Help me act out a scenario? Alcohol, drugs, smoking, Property damage, or stealing…you pick.

Refusal Skills Say “NO” in a firm voice Explain why. Tell them it goes against your values. Suggest something else. Use appropriate body language. Look them in the eye. Leave if necessary. Did our volunteer do this?

So you now know how to manage others with communication and refusal skills, but what about managing myself???

Learning Goal Understand how the decisions you make daily impact your ability to manage yourself in a positive or negative way

Personal Skills Practicing Self-Management. Making good choices today will benefit you later in life. Exercising, eating well, maintaining relationships, building self-esteem. Activity: Imagine I am a genie. I have the ability to grant you 3 wishes. You have exactly 1 minute to write down 3 wishes (can’t wish for more wishes). What did you wish for? Why?

Self Management Read the “Letter from a Doctor” to the class. Imagine this letter is addressed to you… Take a good look at the 3 wishes you wrote down. Does this news change your 3 wishes at all? If you want to change anything based on the news you received, do it now. Does anyone want to share what they changed?

Self Management -If this news you received were true, are you happy with your healthful behaviors? -Would you change any behaviors in your life? -Did the 3 wishes activity make you think about things any differently?

Stress Management

Learning Goal Analyze stress in your life and create strategies to reduce the overall negative effects of that stress.

Stress! What is stress? Based on what you just watched, get into your groups and write a definition of stress.

Stress All stress is a response to a stressor, or a physical or psychological demand that requires a person to adapt to a situation. Balloon Activity: Take out a piece of paper and draw a circle. Inside of the circle, write all of the stressors in your life.

Stress The air in the balloon is equal to the stress in your life. Did the balloon pop? Could it? What might happen to a person’s wellness if stress goes unmanaged? What strategies are effective in managing stress? (1 effective strategy equals a puff out of the balloon)

Stress Test Take a copy of the “Stress Test” and pick the two biggest stressors in your life. Answer the questions. Get with a partner and share what you wrote. Make suggestions or comments on your partner’s strategies to manage the stress.

Stress Management 1.  Organize Yourself. Take better control of the way you're spending your time and energy so you can handle stress more effectively. 2.  Control Your Environment by controlling who and what is surrounding you. In this way, you can either get rid of stress or get support for yourself. 3.  Love Yourself by giving yourself positive feedback. Remember, you are a unique individual who is doing the best you can. 4.  Reward Yourself by planning leisure activities into your life. It really helps to have something to look forward to. 5.  Exercise Your Body since your health and productivity depend upon your body's ability to bring oxygen and food to its cells. Therefore, exercise your heart and lungs regularly, a minimum of three days per week for 15-30 minutes. This includes such activities as walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, aerobics, etc.

Stress Management 6.  Relax Yourself by taking your mind off your stress and concentrating on breathing and positive thoughts. Dreaming counts, along with meditation, progressive relaxation, exercise, listening to relaxing music, communicating with friends and loved ones, etc. 7.  Rest Yourself as regularly as possible. Sleep 7-8 hours a night. Take study breaks. There is only so much your mind can absorb at one time. It needs time to process and integrate information. A general rule of thumb: take a ten minute break every hour. Rest your eyes as well as your mind. 8.  Be Aware of Yourself. Be aware of distress signals such as insomnia, headaches, anxiety, upset stomach, lack of concentration, colds/flu, excessive tiredness, etc. Remember, these can be signs of potentially more serious disorders (i.e., ulcers, hypertension, heart disease). 9.  Feed Yourself / Do Not Poison Your Body. Eat a balanced diet. Avoid high calorie foods that are high in fats and sugar. Don't depend on drugs and/or alcohol. Caffeine will keep you awake, but it also makes it harder for some to concentrate. Remember, a twenty minute walk has been proven to be a better tranquilizer than some prescription drugs. 10. Enjoy Yourself. It has been shown that happier people tend to live longer, have less physical problems, and are more productive. Look for the humor in life when things don't make sense. Remember, you are very special and deserve only the best treatment from yourself.

High Level Stressors Death of a parent Divorce of parents Break-ups Getting a job Money Trouble Failing at school Parent losing job Loss of a pet Moving Illness

Low Level Stressors Vacation Christmas or other holidays Change in eating habits Change in sleeping habits Traffic ticket Change in personal appearance Ending of school

Physical Effects of Stress What can stress do to the body? Rapid, shallow breathing Pounding of the heart Increased blood pressure Sweating Dizziness Sleeplessness Loss of Appetite Weight loss/Weight gain Substance abuse

Psychological Effects of Stress Anxiety Depression Impulsive behavior Low self-esteem Avoiding activities Inability to concentrate Loss of energy Loss of joy

Stress/Self Management Keeping balance in your life by practicing stress management and self-management will help overall wellness…